System of motor control



C. H. ALLEN.

. s YsTEM 0F MOTOR CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I, I9I.

Patented Dee. 27 1921.

INVENTOR. CZWZe KfZ/2M "Y Oh/@mw WITNESSES:

A TTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, LTD., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SYSTEM 0F MOTOR CONTROL.

Application filed April 1, 191s. serial No. 225,877.

To all 'whom it may concern.' I

Beit known that I', CHARLES H. ALLEN, a citizen of the' United States, and resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Motor Control, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to systems of motor control. Y

In washing machines of certain` types, for example, the cylinder type, the washer cylinder is rotated a certain amount invone direction and then reversed to rotate in an opposite direction. It is a good present-day practice to drive the washer cylinders by electric motors, one for each machine. In

i order to change the direction of rotation of 'the washer cylinders some control means must be provided.

Accordingly, one objectk of my invention is toy improvethe means for controlling motors for reversing and ldriving the washer cylinders of washing machines in different directions.

Another object is to provide a system of motor control for washing machines adaptedto meetthe requirements for successful operation.

Generally speaking, these and other objects are accomplished by providing, in a system of motor control, a motor, a generator Jfor Supplying current to said motor, and a novel controller arrangement including a controller driven by said generator or revversing the flow of current supplied to Asaid motor.

The invention is illustrated on the accompanying sheet otl drawings, which shows somewhat diagrammatic'ally my system of motor control.

Referring to the drawing, it will be noted that I have shown a direct current shunt wound generator 10 andamotor 11, preferably an interpole shunt Wound machine,

` it being understood that there may be any number ot motors, one for each particular washing machine to be driven. It also will be understood4 that the motor shaft 12 of each motor will be connected to its corresponding washer cylinder orY other member to bey driven. A controller 13 is shown as having a worm gear 14 which meshes with and is driven by a worm 15 mounted upon the shaft 1.6 ot thegenerator 10,

This controller 13 includes tour slip rings, 17, 1,8, 19 and 20, all of which are positively actuated at all times in the same direction through its gearings with the generator, which latter is also driven continuously in a given direction. The two outer rings 17 and 18 and the inner ring 20, are continuous. The function of the outer ring 17 is to form a current-carrying connection for the segment 21 of ringv19, and the function ot the continuous ringV 18 'is to form a currentcarrying connection for the other segment 22 of the segmental ring 19. Bearing upon the slip ring 17 is abrush 23 electrically connected to a conductor 24, which is connected to a brush 25 in contact with the generator armature 26. Engaging slip ring 18 is brush .27 electrically connected to a conductor 28 connected to a brush 29 also bearing upon the generator armature 26. Ring 17 and sector 21 are electrically connected by a conductor 30, and ring 18 is connected to other segment 22 by a conductor 31. Adapted to consecutively engage. the contact segments 21 and 22 are two Ybrushes 32 and 33, the former being electrically connected to a Vconductor. 34 connectedv to a motor current supply line 35. Electrically connected to the brush 33 is a conductor 36 which is connected to another motorcurrent supply line 37. Leading trom current Supply line 37 is a conductor 38 connected to brush 39 in contact with the motor armature 40. A conductor 41 connected to supply line 35 is electrically connected to a contact 42 ot a hand operated switch 43, the other contact 44 of the switch being electrically connected to a conductor 45 connected to a brush 46 bearing upon the motor end of the field winding 51 with conductorV 28, the other end of the field winding 51 being connected to va conductor 55 leading to Specification of Letters Patent. l Patented Dee. 27, 1921.

brush 56 in engagement withthe inner slip ring 2G. In other words, the generator ield winding 5l is inseries with the inner slip ring 20. i with two diametrically opposite insulated projections '57 and ,58, theunctioii or" which projections is to raise the brush out orP engagement with the ring 20, words, to, in effect, substantial v break the generator iield circuit just prior thatk the currentV supply to t" e reversed, contact between the bi the slip ring 2O being restored J thereafter. To'avod arcing, a suitable oil 59 is connected across the conductors 52and 55, this coil having a suifiicientlv bi resi-tance so that no effective current passes through the generator armature when the shunt through the ring 2O is brolremthe shunt comprising the etiective circuit. Y `l Connected in series with the motor iield circuit is a solenoid coil 6G, which, when the motor iield circuit is energized,fdraws the plungery 6l downwardly into the path oi movement of a projection or arm G2 on Vthe handle of the motor switch i3 to prevent the motor being drawnonto the line when.

the voltage is above a certain predetermined value. However, the swltch d8 can be thrown into position 'for starting tliermotor when the voltage is not suiiicientljv high to overcome the spring 63, the function of which is'to raise and holdthe plunger 6l in its elevated position. Y

lt will be understood that this direct current generator lO'rcontinuously drivesY the controller in the same direction at the properi'speed, determined by the gearing ratio. With the parts arranged as shown in the` drawings, current is supplied from the generator armature through conductor 2li to outer `ring 17 to conductor30,` to confV generator armature 26ior driving the mothe washer. cylinders or otherV membersV tor, or motors, in a given direction. After driven by the motors are rotated a certain predetermined amount, the same are re versed in their direction of movement when the controller is rotated to the extent that the contact sector 21 is moved out of engagement with brush 32 and contact segment 2v2 moved out of engagement with said brush 33,and Contact segment 22 moved into engagement with said brush 32 and contact segment 2l moved into engagement with ysaid' brush The current supplied tothe site direction. The inner slipV ring is provided or, in other versedior driving the motors in an oppo- Y Justpbefore thebrushes 32 and 33 pass out of engagement with their respective segments, the brush 53 is raised out oit electrical engagement with the innerAv controller slip ring 2O 'for vbrealringthe shunt which is part oi the eii'ective generator held circuit, and as soon as Vthese brushes 82 and 33, respectiveijv, nto engagement with said contact segments in a dir erent relationshipkA for making connecbrush 53 is permitted to move bach into. en-

gagement with the controller slip ring 20t Bv means oi: this systemomotor control,

reversing is easily made, there being vno arcing at the contacts, as there arene cir,-V

ltions with the motor armature'circuit,^the'Y scf cessive peak loads to creat-e line disturbances,

I claim: l. Ina system of motor control, a motor having an armature winding, a generator,

for supplying current toss-id motor, said generator hai/'ing alrield winding, and a conbeing further adapted to momentarily reduce the excitation or the generator said re-` duction of excitation covering tlie'period of the reversal of the motor armature current.V

2. ln'asvstem of motor control, a motor having an armature winding, a generator for supplying current tosaid motor, said generator having a iield winding, andV controller for reversing thecurreiit supplied to the motor armature winding, said controller causing a' oeriod of no current new 1 Y to the armature during the 'reversa-l, the controller being` further adapted to momentariljiT reduce the excitation of the generu ator at the time of the reversal'ot the motor .armaturecurrent, said reduction or" ercitationbeing of greater duration than the period of no current flow to tl e" motorarmature.V Y i Sfln a system of motor control, a motor having an 'armature winding, 'aV generator for supplying curient'to said-motor,- said generatorv having a iield winding, 'and a controller` for rever/sing the current supplied to the motor armature winding, said'controller comprising a pair of slip rings an'dj-a seg` mental slip-ring, one segment of Vwhich is electrically 'connected 'to each slip ring, the ring` andA segments beinginterposed inthe circuit between the generatorand theme-V tor armature, and adapted to reverse said current, the controller -further including e,

. slip ring and brushes in the generator field y generator having a field winding, and a controller for reversing the current supplied to the motor armature winding, said controller Comprising a pair of slip rings and a segmental slip ring, one Segment of `which is eleetrieallyeonneeted to each slip ring2 the ring and segments being interposed in the circuit between the generator and the motor armature, and adapted to reverse Vsaid current, there being a gap between the segments whereby there is a period of no current flow to the armature during the reversal, the controller further including a slip ring and brushes in the generator field circuit, and means to momentarily lift a brush to reduce the current in said circuit, said means being so located as to cause the reduction of excitation to occur at the time of the motor armature current reversal and to be of greater duration than the period of no current flow to the armature.

Signed at Chicago, Ill. this 25th day of March, 1918.

CHARLES H. ALLEN.

llVitnesses: A C. M. OBERBECK, CHAs. L. BYRON. e 

